The 2025-26 season of the UEFA Champions League will start with an intense first round of matches. The first week of this prestigious competition will see 6 matches on Tuesday 18 September, including a key match between the only Turkish representative, Galatasaray, and the German team Eintracht Frankfurt. This initial phase will determine which teams will reach the 16th finals, with the first 24 teams in the ranking being automatically qualified. The full calendar of the first week includes three-day matches, from Tuesday to Thursday, with clashes between clubs from different European leagues, such as Athletic Bilbao, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Real Saint-Gilloise, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Olympique Marseille, Benfica, Tottenham, Villarreal, Olympiakos, Slavia Prague, Bodø/Glimt, Ajax, Inter, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool, Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Atalanta, Club Bruges, Monaco, Copenhagen, Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester City, Naples, Newcastle United, Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon.

The statements made by Julian Nagelsmann concerning the transfer of Leroy Sané generated a notable response from Matthias Sammer, former sports director of the German selection and Borussia Dortmund. Nagelsmann had expressed the hope that Sané would stand out in a league that was potentially less competitive than the Bundesliga, while stressing the need for adaptation time. Sammer criticized this vision, stressing the importance of individual performances for the national team call and questioning the idea that success in a less prestigious league would suffice. He also mentioned the example of Cristiano Ronaldo, who, according to him, failed to flourish in a less competitive league. Sammer stressed that the national team must rely on players who demonstrate a high level of performance, regardless of the championship they are in.

For the crucial match against Eintracht Frankfurt, Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk opted for the integration of Mauro Icardi into the first eleven. Initially, the technical team had doubts about its physical condition, providing for progressive progression. However, due to a lack of players available on the team, including Victor Osimhen, who was selected for the game, Icardi was integrated into the starting composition. The coach expects Osimhen, along with Peace Alpereyüpspor and Foçavette, to be able to prove himself in this first match in Germany. The outcome of this meeting will be decisive for Galatasaray’s ambitions in the Champions League.